Chapter 52

A/N First date next generation

Feeling extra generous today so y'all get an extra chapter today. Also look forward to chapter 61 I stepped out of my comfort zone for y'all..LOL

Elizabeth spent most of the day Saturday in the library studying and writing a paper. She needed something to distract her from Henry and tonight and getting class work done was always her go to solution. Henry was picking her up at 5 so at 3 she decided to call it a day.

She walked into her room and straight to her closet. It would be a warm evening so she decided on a skirt, blue sleeveless top and black heels. She didn't wear heels often, but was comfortable wearing them when she did.

She showered and shaved all the important areas just in case. She sat down at her dressing table to apply her makeup. She didn't wear a lot of makeup on a day to day basis, but wanted to look nice for him. She put her necklace on since the only time she took it off was to shower and her diamond stud earrings in her ears. She heard a knock on the door and looked at the clock. It was way too early for Henry.

She opened the door to find Cassie, one of her suitemates at the door. The good thing about the new dorms was each had a private bedroom, bathroom and a mini kitchen/living area in the middle.

Cassie was the only one who was also taking summer courses, so they pretty much had the run of the place to themselves.

"What is up Cassie?" she asked as she opened the door for her to come in.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go grab an early dinner, but since you are putting makeup on and have a hot outfit hanging on your closet door, I am guessing that would be a No," she said smiling at her. "What's up you going on a date and if so why am I just now finding out about this?"

Elizabeth ducked her head. She had kept Henry underwraps from everyone. "Yes, I am going out with a guy that I met on my morning runs. We have run into each other, literally a few times. We saw each other at Giovanni's and he asked me on a date."

"OMG Elizabeth, tell me about him. I can not believe you have kept him quiet. Is it serious? What does he look like? Is he cute?" Cassie was bombarding her with questions.

Elizabeth laughed at her. "Come sit down and I will tell you about him while I finish getting ready."

She told her about how they met and his gorgeous eyes and smile and how she really enjoyed spending time with him. They could talk about anything and everything. He was the most intelligent person she had ever met.

"Well I can see our friendship has really taken a backseat, if this has been going on for 2 weeks and I am just now finding out about Mr. Perfect," Cassie said.

"Hey don't blame me, this is the first time I have seen you in 2 weeks. You have been busy keeping company with your own Mr. Perfect," Elizabeth laughed at her.

"Ok, you have a point. Where are you going on your date?" Cassie asked, as she picked up the skirt from Elizabeth's bed. She wondered just how hot this guy was if Elizabeth was wearing that skirt.

"I am not sure, he didn't say." Elizabeth told her.

The girls talked more about just general stuff as Elizabeth continued to get ready. She walked out of her bathroom fully dressed and ready to go.

Cassie looked at her, "Damn you're hot. Hope you shaved all the appropriate places?"

Elizabeth looked at her with a shocked look on her face. She immediately started turning red. "It is not like that. This is just our first official date. We haven't even kissed yet. I am not jumping into bed with a guy I just met."

Cassie raised her hands in defeat, "Just don't be surprised if you leave him speechless in that outfit."

At exactly 5, there was a knock on the door. Elizabeth was sitting in the living room area. She rose and walked over and opened the door. Her mouth flew open and she just stood there. Henry was dressed in a starched white shirt, pleated slacks and a blue tie. Her mouth was watering and she could not make her mouth form words.

Henry was having the same issue as he took in her outfit. He suddenly felt his pants getting a little tighter in his lower region. She was a total knockout. His breathing was becoming ragged and his brain was muddled.

Cassie was observing the two from across the room and decided to bail them out.

"I am Cassie, Elizabeth's suite mate," she said as she approached the door.

This brought them both out of their stupor. "Henry McCord," he said to her.

Finally able to speak, he looked back to Elizabeth. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes, let me grab my jacket and we can leave," Elizabeth told him. She looked up at Cassie and she mouthed to her "he is hot". Elizabeth smiled and turned towards the door.

Driving to the restaurant, Henry asked her, "I hope you like French food. I found this restaurant and have wanted to try it, I just have not had a reason to before now?"

Elizabeth smiled, she knew exactly where they were going. It was the only French restaurant in town.

They arrived and Henry walked around the car and opened her door for her. Placing his hand on the small of her back guiding her to the door. The feel of his hand on her had his skin tingling.

They were seated and a waiter had taken their drink order. Red wine for both. Just as they were about to ask the other what they were going to order, a short gentleman with an impressive mustache approached their table.

"Ah Ms. Elizabeth. How are you? It has been so long, how have you been?" he asked her, placing a kiss on both cheeks.

"Francois, it is so good to see you, it has been far too long. I have been away for a few years. I just came back to town last fall. I am going to school at UVA," she told him.

Henry was sitting watching the exchange with a questioning look on his face.

Francois observed Henry and shook his hand. "I will not take up any more of your evening. You will not need these menus, I will prepare a special meal for you both. Enjoy your wine and dinner will be with you in a little while."

Henry and Elizabeth both thanked him and she sat back down.

"Ok, I am going to need you to tell me about that?" he said to her.

"Well I have told you that I grew up here. I used to come here a lot with my family. My grandfather was personal friends with Jean the owner. He passed away a few years ago. Francois is his son and now the owner and chef. This place holds special memories for my family. My parents actually went on their first date here," she told him shyly.

"Well I guess since this is our first official date it is fate we came here. Let's toast to a wonderful night with a beautiful woman as my dinner date," he said, raising his glass.

Henry was thinking that when she talked about her parents, her eyes seemed to change. They went from the deep brilliant blue to a grayish color. He wondered why. Should he ask why or just wait on her to tell him.

Their meals were served and both of them were very impressed with how good they were. Elizabeth took a bite and moaned and it had an immediate effect on Henry. He decided he would love to hear her moan over and over.

He blushed realizing where his thoughts went. Shaking his head he asked her if she wanted more wine. She shook her head and he refilled her glass.

Once their dinner was eaten, both sat back in their chairs. "That was one of the best meals I have ever eaten. I am so glad I decided to bring us here," he told her.

She agreed. They enjoyed their wine and continued talking. He told her more about his childhood and growing up in Pittsburg, his parents and his siblings.

She could tell he was close to his Mom Susan. His voice got a different reflection in it when he spoke of her. His Dad was a whole other subject.

"He doesn't agree with my life choices. He wanted me to stay in Pittsburgh and follow in his footsteps going to work in the steel mill. I have always been different from him and we don't see eye to eye on things. I wanted to go away to college and experience life. He thought I was too good for him and his lifestyle," he told her with sadness in his voice.

Elizabeth placed her hand on his arm. "We don't always agree with what our parents' expectations of us are. You should get to live your life how you want it and not how they want it. Especially if what you want to do with your life makes you happy."

He placed his hand over hers on his arm and smiled at her. He was in awe at just how much she understood what he was saying. He had only known her a short time and she was more in tune with him than his Dad had been his whole life.

"What about you, you seem to have a total grasp on expectations. Do your parents do that to you too?" he asked.

She lowered her head and pulled her hand back placing them in her lap.

He noticed her eyes before she looked down. There seemed to be great sadness in them. He immediately regretted his question.

She looked back up at him with teary eyes. She did not want to bring sadness to their date, but she also didn't want to be dishonest with him.

She took a deep breath and looked at him. "My parents were killed in a car accident 3 years ago. It is just my brother and me now. He is away at boarding school. My aunt took us in after their deaths, but because she was always needing to travel for her job, we went away to boarding school. I wanted more than anything to come back here and go to school at UVA. This is kind of embarrassing, but the finance building at UVA is named after my Dad and my Mom designed it."

Henry did not know what to say or do. She was obviously still in pain from her parents death. He took her hand in his. "I am so sorry that you had to go through that. No one should experience that kind of pain, especially as young as you were. Can I do anything for you?"

She wiped her tears and shook her head. "I am sorry our date has taken such a dark turn. I never meant for this to happen. Usually I don't tell people about my parents until I have known them for a while. You asked and I wanted to be completely open and honest with you. I have really enjoyed spending time with you these last few weeks and I did not want to lie to you if you asked."

"I have really enjoyed spending time with you and getting to know you. I am glad that you were honest with me and didn't try to sidestep my question. Being open and honest with each other is a good thing in a relationship and I truly want a relationship with you. You are the most beautiful, smartest, sweetest and honest person I have ever met and if you will let me, I would like to spend as much time as possible with you getting to know more about you," he told her hopefully.

She blushed at his complements. She was not used to hearing that from others. Sure she had gone on dates in the past and even had a boyfriend for a few months at Houghton, but that was not an adult relationship and she very much wanted that with Henry. Once she finally accepted that over their dinner at Giovanni's, she was all in.

She intertwined their fingers and leaned down and placed a soft kiss on the back of his hand. "I very much want to have a relationship with you. I fought it in the beginning and ran from it, but when I realized I couldn't do that anymore I resigned myself to let myself be happy. In the past, I would not let myself be happy. I didn't feel like I deserved to be happy after the death of my parents. I told myself that I needed to be punished for not being with them the day they died, because I was too caught up in being selfish and wanting to study."

He could see she was on the verge of tears and he didn't want her to be embarrassed by crying in public. He quickly motioned the waiter and paid the bill. He took her hand and guided her out of the restaurant. Once on the sidewalk outside he guided her to his car.

He drove them to his apartment. She was in a daze and didn't realize where she was or what was going on as he opened the door. He placed his hand on her lower back guiding her inside. He helped her take her jacket off and led her over to the couch.

He sat down beside her. She was quiet and he was unsure where her head was. He placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into him. He leaned back on the couch and he heard her sobs start. He wanted to comfort her and make her feel safe. She was very precious to him and he wanted to convey that to her.

She suddenly felt his arms tightening around her and the comfort she was receiving from him was foreign to her, but it felt good. She let herself relax in his embrace as her tears streamed down her face.

He felt the tension leave her body as it pressed further up against him. He relaxed his hold on her, but made sure she knew he was there for her and it was the only place he wanted to be. He let her cry until she cried herself to sleep. He wondered how many times she had done that since her parents died and if someone was there in her past to hold her. He decided right then and there she would never have to shed tears alone.

He slowly slid out from under her and laid her down on the sofa. He walked into the bedroom and pulled back the covers. He walked into the living room and reached down and lifted her up into his arms. He walked her into the bedroom and laid her down on his bed. He removed her shoes and tucked the duvet around her.

He walked into the kitchen and poured himself 2 fingers of scotch. The evening had not gone like he had imagined. He thought they would have dinner, maybe take a walk and then he would finally kiss her at her door when he dropped her off. Her being sound asleep in his bed never figured into his plans, but he wasn't upset about it. He had a few dreams over the last couple of weeks of having her in his bed, just not with her tears involved.

He finished his drink and walked into the bedroom. He got some sleep clothes and stepped into the bathroom to change and brush his teeth. He walked over to the other side of the bed and slid in under the covers. He slid his hand under her and pulled her into his side. In her sleep, she snuggled into him and placed her head on his shoulder. He was very content and happy she was snuggled up to him. He took a deep breath and slowly let sleep overtake him with a smile on his face.

Tomorrow would be another day and he hoped she would sleep tonight and feel better in the morning.

I could not resist recreating Benjamin and Suzanne's first date dinner. Gave me a good fuzzy feeling.